Wednesday, May 31, 2006

yoga mats : The Dreaded Free Weight Room

I am new to the world of the gym. Having resolved to make my health and fitness a priority, spending time at the gym is becoming a staple in my weekly routine. While I find that I am getting well acquainted with different exercises and exercise machines, there is one area of the gym that I fear to tread.

Behind a partial wall, tucked to the rear of the building, away from the cardio machines, spinning rooms and yoga mats, is the free weight room. When I work the weight machines I am a stones throw from the free weight room, not close enough to really see what goes on in there, but definitely close enough to hear what goes on in there.

They say if you sit long enough in one place, the whole world will pass you by. This may be true, but if you sit long enough near the free weight room, you see a whole other world of gym patron pass you by. Into this mysterious room disappear giant men, their poor t-shirts barely able to contain their burly mass, arms propped out by massive lats; Amazon women with bodies of iron and physique most men would sell their mothers for. They disappear behind the wall and for a good while they vanish. All that remains is their grunting.

From the free weight room issues forth a chorus of hissing and grunting that would put any tennis player to shame. Now being a novice in the gym, I can only assume the grunting issues forth under the Herculean effort needed to heft such tremendous weights. On my side of the wall, the weight machine side, we are a quiet lot. The only break in the peace is the occasional clang of a poorly executed rep. In fact, on my side of the gym we are so quite, that no one even notices when we come and go. We are like gym ninjas – stealthy and quite. I would like to think that we choose to leave the grunting to the giants on the other side of the wall. Of course, really this is totally untrue. I choose to leave the grunting to the giants on the other side of the wall because I am totally ignorant of free weights.

Talking to a friend of mine who swears that while he loves to use free weights, not all of his kind, are grunters. He does however, insist that free weights are an excellent way to expand your work out. If done correctly, free weights allow you to work a wide range of muscles through a full range of motion, unhampered by any physical limitation often present in a machine. Further, lifting free weights forces your body to develop its stabilizers. These muscles help with balance and support. Another key component of free weights is that there is no size restrictions. That is, you have to be able to ‘fit' a weight machine. If not, you cannot use it. Free weights are, according to my friend, an essential aspect of any weight training regime.

I still sit near the free weight room to see the goings and comings of the gym giants, but I have made an appointment with a personal trainer to get introduced to the world of free weights. According to my trainer, good form while using free weights is vital for safety. Injury is possible if not used correctly. I look forward to my first foray into the unknown. I am excited to see what lies behind the wall. My trainer assures me that somewhere behind the wall, there are normal people like myself all taking advantage of free weights. More importantly, grunting is not a prerequisite. Apparently, there are free weight ninjas too.

by The Icon Reader

yoga mats : Decorating Ideas for your Attic

Do you have an attic in your house? Lucky You! You can decorate your attic however you like and create your own favorite corner in the house, or even an extra place for your children or your guests. Depending on your attics' space and on your own personal taste, you can finally have an attic that fulfils your needs.

Need an extra bedroom? The attic can turn into a beautiful private bedroom for a friend that stays the night, a visiting couple, or a relative from out of town. Use light shades and soft fabric materials; you don't want your guest to get tired and dizzy from the lively colors. Instead, create a pleasant, romantic atmosphere. You will need a single or, if there is enough space, a double bed, a small closet with drawers and one or two small bedside tables. A big, elegantly shaped mirror will add several points and will make the room seem spacious. If the room is already spacious enough, you can place a bedroom chair facing the window. Add a dreamcatcher or a wind chime and enjoy the results!


How about a playroom for your children? They would love to have their own, "No Moms Allowed!" space for their toys, their games and their imagination. You will need a soft, warm carpet to keep the room cozy during wintertime. Don't carpet the corners though, as you will need some room to swap out for a lighter, cooler carpet for the summer days. You will also need large pillows or soft inflatable chairs. When opting for a playroom, use lively colors that will keep the children excited and happy. This room could have a small TV and DVD play set, videogames, board games, many toys, and puzzles, whatever a kid needs! Don't place sporting material such as bouncers, trampolines and swings because the roof is too low in attics and the children might get hurt while playing.


Are you an artist? Even if the answer is no, an attic can make you one! Make your own inspirational studio. Don't use a carpet this time. Color and material chips will stain it. If you are a painter, equip your studio with painting knives, palettes, art pencils, drawing sticks, charcoal, paints, brushes and canvas, paper blocks and rolls. If you are a craftsman you can create a wood art studio. Equip it with a large working table, hole cutting templates, curving tools. Place furniture with shelves in the corner to place and admire your artwork.


An attic can be your gym! You'll need adequate ventilation in there, or a large window. Dress the room with a soft carpet and buy your gym equipment. Don't buy large fitness equipment. Prefer many smaller ones, or a few multi training machines. You can also have light exercise tools like fitness balls, tummy trimmers, weight sets, yoga mats. A small refrigerator filled with bottled water or energy drinks is necessary for the attic gym room so that you won't need to run downstairs every time you get thirsty. A mini stereo will enhance your exercise with power music.


There is no limit to your imagination about the potential use of your attic space. Sure, it comes in handy as a storage place, but what moments of joy can you invest in a storage place? With creativity and a little money, the attic can be your favorite room.

by Charles Kassotis

Sunday, May 28, 2006

yoga mats : The march of time is relentless and unforgiving

The march of time is a relentless and unforgiving one, is it not? The last time I went to yoga was halfway through my brief incarnation as a solicitor, a period infused with stress, ulcers and not a little professional negligence. To try to alleviate at least the first parts of this unholy trinity, I joined the local group of what I thought would be serene, centred and pleasingly bendy people. They turned out to be a motley crew of fiftysomething women with Evian bottles filled with vodka, who would stub out their fags as the teacher approached and spend the next 45 minutes trying to cross their arthritic legs. By virtue of being a non-alcoholic non-smoker and the possessor of a skeleton three decades less calcified than the class average, I was the star pupil.

What a difference four years makes. I have moved house and my local class now contains a slightly younger and less emphysemic clientele. Less positively, it appears that alternating hours of being hunched over a desk with hours lying supine on the sofa has not done much for my joints. In fact, I now have the flexibility and grace of a dumbbell. And the final kicker - not 10 minutes into the first class, there is revealed to me the unwelcome knowledge that even if I were still supple enough to touch my toes, my stomach and the laws of physics that apply to solid masses would prevent me from so doing.
Why is it that these exercise classes have me lurching between elation and despair? Why do I end up crying so often after my attempts at physical betterment? And why do they not make yoga mats absorbent enough to deal with the copious tears that flow from their owners above? Perhaps fortunately, the group - clearly of the hippy-dippy rather than Benson & Hedges persuasion - interpreted my sobs as some kind of spiritual breakthrough and applauded a new member who had succeeded in "getting in touch with her body". Only too well, I tried to explain. And there was nobody who could offer me a drink or a fag for comfort.

by Lucy Mangan

yoga mats : students at Berwick Secondary

STUDENTS at Berwick Secondary College swapped their textbooks for yoga mats and meditation this week during a daylong conference focused on personal wellbeing.

Jeff Kennett, former Victorian Premier and chairman of Beyond Blue, a national organisation working to raise awareness of depression in Australia, was also a guest speaker during the day-long event.

Mr Kennett spoke to the school’s 230 year 11 students about the need to create more community awareness about mental illness and de-stigmatise depression.

Student welfare coordinator Manfred Horn organised the event in which 30 presenters talked to students about their physical and mental health.

Mr Horn said students faced a lot of decisions in their senior years and found themselves dealing with relationship issues as well as extra stresses.

“Students are facing a lot of decisions about careers and other choices and it is important that they make the right ones.

“Days like this might help students to stop and think about how to deal with their own lives and do something positive for themselves and their friends by making contact with the community and focusing on their physical and mental health,” he said.

Students took part in various workshops through out the day and also enjoyed yoga, aromatherapy and meditation.

Berwick local and Hawthorn footballer Travis Tuck also visited the school, as did players from the Dandenong Rangers basketball team.

Mr Horn said this was the second year the school had run the wellbeing day and they would continue to make it an annual event.

Copyright 2006 Star News Group

yoga mats : THE SSO A-Z GUIDE TO QUEER SYDNEY

When yoga started becoming popular in the Western world a decade or so ago, as with most trends, the gays were early adopters.

Was it the sexy, empowering poses that enticed queers down onto their yoga mats, or the full-body workout that toned their bodies to perfection?

One reason was certainly the fact Madonna became an early avid fan of the practice. Not only is she a walking advertisement for how amazing it can make you look, but most gay men and lesbians take her word as gospel (except when it comes to Kabbalah – gays are smarter than that).

If Kylie were to take it up there wouldn’t be a single gay not doing the downward dog right this minute.

Yoga – which roughly translates to “union of the individual” – was practised in India for ages before the rest of the world cottoned on to it.

The are many different forms of yoga, but most involve elements of meditation and contortion of the body into poses which are used to stretch and strengthen the body, massage the organs and liberate the mind. Sounds pretty gay to us.

Yupsters

Look at yourself. Do you have a corporate job but pride yourself on your expensive deconstructed jeans?

Are you out of suits and into Chuck Taylor All-Stars on the weekends? Is your iPod full of Scissor Sisters and White Stripes?

You might just be a Yupster.

An amalgamation of “yuppie” and “hipster” the Yupster phenomenon was first identified in the New York Post, which used the term to describe “urban strivers” with good jobs, mortgages (or ridiculously high rents), iPods and an interest in all things counter-culture.

A love for the film Garden State was a dead giveaway, the Post suggested.

Sydney has no shortage of this modern day yuppies, and the gays are leading the way as usual.

There he is – the international banker on the dance floor at Bad Dog, wearing his $200 Tsubi jeans teamed with an old $7 Bonds blue singlet.

Still confused?

Urbandictionary.com offers this definition: “When your jeans cost more than your iPod and your coffee cost more than your t-shirt, you’re a yupster.”

http://www.ssonet.com.au/display.asp?ArticleID=5384

Friday, May 26, 2006

yoga mats : Changing ways and means

At Yoga-ez our commitment to a sustainable, healthy, ecologically balanced and fairly traded lifestyle and future underpins our whole raison d'etre.

To walk the talk, helping others seek solutions, enabling change and a better way of being, endeavouring in our own small way to address and bring balance back to lifestyle, stewardship and aspiration - is a powerful driving force and commitment at any time.

I have always believed that nothing is impossible:

"The impossible is possible,
when people align with you.
When you do things with people,
not against them,
the amazing resources
of the Higher Self within
are mobilised.
- Gita Bellin -


At this time it is more important than ever that we walk our talk. So embracing the Way of the Web and using its most positive aspects, at Yoga-ez, we have been working on an idea that we feel encourages others to do likewise.

The only true power to influence is in numbers - and numbers is what the Web is all about. To be able to connect and communicate on the scale that is afforded by the Web is awesome. To harness that tremendous connectivity is the web equivalent of the Holy Grail.

This ability to accumulate such numbers is being achieved through our site building methodology.

This is not unique to us - it can be replicated within any area, with whatever brilliant ideas people have and wish to communicate.

Imagine what you can do..and be able to do it!

yoga-ez fitness - 2004 - all rights reserved UK and the world

yoga mats : More than just postures

Apart from helping you choose great props, accessories and supplies we want to help you promote your skills, expertise, services, ideas and passions.

We believe it imperative to be happy, live consciously and serve others as well as meeting our own needs.
That is why we offer solutions that maximize potential, talent, expertise and knowledge in the most ethical, beneficial and community serving ways.

We show you how to create a web presence that really works and for those that know nothing about web sites show how it builds it for you (the same way we created this site!).

Whether you run a yoga studio, are a therapist, have great life coping strategies to promote, offer retreats, health expertise, environmental professional, business enterprise, NGO, activist or any other of the myriad talents bursting to make themselves known, the way to reach your target audience is now infinitely possible through ethical, affordable and enriching solutions.

Never before have the 'minnows' been in the position to communicate, share, spread best practice and sustainable ways as is now possible.

The ways and means we offer, not only help promote your own talents and expertise but give you access to FREE advice, tips and a proven methodology to make a profitable, beneficial contribution toward balance and harmony in life.

yoga-ez - 2004 - all rights reserved UK and worldwide

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

yoga mats : Yoga Mats & Props for effective stretching

The Living Yoga™ Exercise Ball, designed to help strengthen the lower back, buttocks, abdomen, chest and arms, is the ideal exercise companion for the whole family. Can increase flexibility, range of motion, balance and coordination as part of a serious physical fitness or therapy program. Good for a restorative stretch after a long day, or an invigorating workout anytime. Each heavy-duty inflatable vinyl ball supports up to 600 lbs.
Yoga Essentials® Mat
Feel secure in your poses with our nonslip yoga mat, an essential component for your yoga practice. A safe and comfortable surface on which to orchestrate any pose, these 1/8 in in x 24 in in x 68 in mats are durable, lightweight and washable. Folds or rolls easily for travel.
Yoga Essentials™ Strap
Add flexibility to your asanas with our Yoga Essential™ Straps. Get the length needed to grasp limbs you otherwise couldn't reach and hold poses longer to achieve the results you want. Once in position, the cinch buckle holds securely, and its unique design provides an easy release.

© 2006 The Mail Order Catalog, LLC

yoga mats : Ruth White Yoga Mat

NEW COLOURS - our Relaxation Yoga Blanket now comes in Plum with Azelea stitch, Dark Lilac with Ultra Violet stitch & Dark Sky with Caribbean stitch. All the Relaxation Blankets are 180cm in length, 100% spunpoly lambskin (100% polyester), anti pil fleece that will not bobble over time, machine washable at 40°C (short spin, but do not wring) and are made in the United Kingdom.

Ruth White Yoga Products Ltd is the original UK supplier of the Non Slip Yoga Mat - straight from our German manufacturer since 1981. Our mats have been the choice of many leading Yoga Institutes, Clubs, Schools, Teachers and Students for over 25 years. We are now based in Newbury, Berkshire.

We sell adult yoga mats, extra long yoga mats, kids & childrens yoga mats, as well as wholesale, bulk & boxed yoga mats. We can supply other sized yoga mats that are not listed on this website. If you require a larger or smaller yoga mat, please do not hesitate to contact us with your enquiry.

Yoga is a powerful system of healing. It incorporates an enormous range of body movement and has an impact on the whole personality. It is a safe regenerative form of exercise which builds a firm foundation of health. Practice leads poise, self-confidence, vitality and increased concentration. Thus unlike many other physical activities, Yoga is not merely for the young, but for everyone, whatever your ability.


Design by Paradigm Web Solutions Ltd Copyright © 2006 Ruth White Yoga Products Ltd

yoga mats: Non-Slip Yoga Mats

Developed in India, yoga is a spiritual practice that has been evolving for the last 5,000 years or so. The original yogis were reacting, in part, to India's ancient Vedic religion, which emphasized rituals. The yogis wanted a direct spiritual experience -- one on one -- not symbolic ritual. So they developed yoga. Yoga means "union" in Sanskrit, the classical language of India.

According to the yogis, true happiness, liberation and enlightenment comes from union with the divine consciousness known as Brahman, or with Atman, the transcendent Self. The various yoga practices are a methodology for reaching that goal. In hatha yoga, for example, postures and breathing exercises help purify the mind, body and spirit so the yogi can attain union.
After many requests, we’ve recently added Thick, Non-Slip Yoga Mats to our range of products at Zenthings.com, with:
High quality closed-cell PVC vinyl giving the mat a soft cushioning effect. (100% latex free). These mats are manufactured using a process which introduces tiny bubbles in the PVC based material, providing the ‘sticky effect’. Some other mats use latex base and add a coating which wears off over time.
Mats strictly meet EU manufacturing standards (CE mark).
Internal, center threading gives this mat exceptional strength and durability against tearing.
The mats measure 172cm x 61cm (68inches x 24inches) and at 5.5mm (1/4 inch), are of a thicker texture than regular mats.
Mats are available in a deep-purple or dark-blue colour.

http://www.zenthings.com/yoga/index.asp

yoga mats: Bindu Yoga Wear

The garments are made by Indian handicraft, some are completely handmade. They are designed by a team of young designers, who, with their feet rooted in the tradition, are looking towards the future and modern needs.
The quality is a fundamental priciple for our products, only high quality materials, without any chemical processing or other harmful substances for the environment.
No childlabour whatsoever,the manufacturers of the collection, have their own working philosophy. They have started a Foundation for the children of their employees and other streetchildren from a big indian city, giving them an education and economical help so that they will not get assumed too early by the labourmarket. At the moment more than 300 children are going in this schools.
Bindu sustains morally and economically this project. We profoundly believe that another World is possible, we just need to create it!
yoga mats

http://www.bindu.it/english.html

Monday, May 22, 2006

yoga mats : Yoga mats and pillows needed by the Perinatal Council

The Perintal Council, a non-profit that provides health care, education and job assistance to teenage parents and families in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, is providing a free hypnobirthing class for its clients. We need yoga mats and pillows to help make the girls comfortable during the class; if you're cleaning out your closet and have some to donate, we'll gladly take them and can arrange to pick them up. All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you for your help! Please contact me either by e-mail or by phone at (510) 903-7510.

Copyright © 2006 craigslist, inc.

yoga mats : Black Leather Crescent Mat Bag

These fresh, 'hand-bag' style Yoga mat, or Pilates mat, cases are available in both stylish MicroFiber and full-grain leather. This roomy bag will carry all your Yoga or Pilates fitness tools including a mat, blocks, strap, clothes, towel, etc. The fully lined interior includes a zippered accessory pocket for keys, cash and/or other personal items. The convenient loop handles are secured with steel fittings and the bag features self-healing nylon zippers.

© 2006 Crescent Moon

yoga mats: Sticky Mats

A great yoga mat is the single most valuable tool purchased for a yoga practice. Knowing which mat or mats will most enhance your practice is essential. Hugger Mugger yoga mats are the gold standard for quality, durability and selection in the yoga industry.
From the root word "tap" meaning to burn, the word "tapas" as B.K.S. Iyengar states in the Concise Light on Yoga is " a burning effort ...to achieve a definite goal in life" and "by tapas the yogi develops strength in body, mind and character". Thus, by bringing tapas to your yoga practice you shall reap many rewards."
The sticky Original Tapas® Mats offer a stable, non-slip surface for yoga practice in a variety of options. This original yoga mat is 68" long and 1/8" thick. These yoga mats now come in purple, emerald green, periwinkle, autumn rust & sage. For the 74" inch length (perfect for taller people) click on Original Tapas® Mats - 74" length. These mats can also be purchased in rolls of 15 for great savings and to share with friends-- click on Original Tapas® Mats By The Roll.

http://www.yoga-for-health-and-fitness.com/equipment/hugger-mugger-yoga-mats.htm

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Yoga mats; Earth Elements Yoga Mat(

Earth Elements eco yoga mats are made from a newly developed and patented TPE (Thermal Plastic Elastomer) foam. They contain no latex, PVC or rubber, and they use no toxic materials in production. Its patterned soft surface provides superb traction to help achieve a grounded feeling in your postures without slipping. The closed cell construction of these mats prevents absorption of fluids, making it also easy to keep clean. You will love this mat.

Thank you for being a part of the solution.

“…zero break-in time…comfortable, thick and grippy from the start…an excellent product.” —Michael Fukumura

Eco Yoga Mats are available in 3 delightful dual-sided colors:

Grass (3mm thick) $37.95
Violet (5mm thick) $42.95
Sky (5mm thick) $42.95

Dimensions: 24" x 72"


Copyright © 2006 Barefoot Yoga Company. All Rights Reserved.

Yoga mats; Premium Black Mats

The Premium Black Mat is an innovative yoga mat designed for performance and longevity. It has a slip-resistant surface and remains consistently firm and flat on all floor types. It has an excellent non-sticky grip and its texture is solid, not mushy or stretchy so you feel very grounded when you’re on it. These black yoga mats were constructed to last a lifetime and offer exceptional durability that is superior to any mat currently available.

This german made premium black yoga mat is also known as the VB Mat or The Transformer Mat. Many people refer to it simply as "THE BLACK MAT". We've often heard people call it "the Mercedes of yoga mats".

Good for all types of Yoga, especially popular with Astanga Yoga practitioners.

71" black mats will fit nicely in all of our standard sized yoga mat bags, but we suggest ordering the X-large yoga mat bag to accommodate the 100" black mat.

98% PVC, 2% recycled polyester
Latex free


Copyright © 2006 Barefoot Yoga Company. All Rights Reserved.

Yoga Mat: Natural Jute and PER

This New Earthy and latex-free Eco-friendly Yoga mat is made from Jute and PER. The jute fibers in this mat offer the strength of conventional fiberglass mesh, yet decompose easily in landfill conditions in the event your mat ends up in a landfill. We suggest reusing it instead.

This mat's unique look and feel are created by meshing jute fibers with patented PER plastic that is phthalate-free. PER is safer for workers during manufacturing and is an important innovation in reducing worldwide use of harmful synthetic chemicals. The result is a mat that looks distinctive and lets you feel better about your ecological footprint — yet doesn't compromise on the grippy, cushiony texture you count on for your best Yoga positions.

Jute plants take only 45 months to grow to maturity, making them a sustainable resource. They clean the air by consuming carbon dioxide, and the leaves are a natural soil conditioner. It's clearly a smart and naturally beautiful choice for a cleaner and safer environment.



Copyright © 2006 Barefoot Yoga Company. All Rights Reserved

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Yoga Mats: Yoga Mat

There are many styles of yoga mats. In order to provide the best fit for every person, we offer various yoga mat sizes, thicknesses, densities, colors, textures, and materials. Whatever style of yoga mat you are looking for...we have the mat for you!
Universal Yoga Mat
A lightly textured, high-tack surface allows your hands to sink into this mat during poses. Available in 4mm, 5.5mm and in rolls. Seven colors.

Deluxe Yoga Mat
Has a heavily textured, high tack foam surface on both sides for better grip. Available in 3/16" thickness (4.7 mm).

Standard: 24"x68"
Available in eight colors. $17.95
Also available in 100' rolls.
Long: 24"x72"

© 2000-2006 MatsMatsMats.com, a TinyInkling.com, LLC Company

Yoga mats: Meditation Cushions

Zafu Pillow:

Our comfortable and supportive Zafu pillow provides better spine alignment and proper height for a more comfortable and deeper meditation. The Zafu makes sitting meditation easier on the knees and ankles. Our Buckwheat Hull or Kapok filling gently conforms to your body's shape and is wrapped in a strong, pure cotton twill shell - our natural Zafu is untreated and unbleached. Our Zafu pillows are a supremely comfortable resting place from which to embark on the meditative travels of the mind/body. Available in Round or Crescent shape. Available in natural, purple, navy blue, medium denim blue, red and black - (colored zafus do not use natural dyes).
Size: 15" diameter x 7" thick
Weight: approximately 6 pounds for buckwehat and 3 lbs for kapok
Yoga mats


© 2000-2006 MatsMatsMats.com, a TinyInkling.com, LLC Company

Yoga Mat : Comfort Yoga Mat

Comfort Yoga Mat,Stretch out in comfort on our new Comfort Mat for Yoga and Pilates. It's a full 1/4" inch thick to give extra cushioning and comfort to your knees, ankles and other areas. The non-slip surface provides lots of traction, while the lightly textured surface gives you extra grip. The Comfort Mat is thick and soft, yet dense enough to provide a firm foundation for standing and balancing postures. Measuring 6 feet in length, it's longer than standard mats and long enough to fit most men and women.
- 1/4 inch thick
- 6 feet long
- Non-slip surface
- Rounded corners
- Purple, Red, Blue, Orange, Yellow or Pink


Wholesale Yoga Props

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Cheshire Soup

Comfort soup times a thousand--a curious mix of soup and hot cereal enlivened by one of the all-time great English cheeses. Soft on the palate and eyes: white on white, with leeks, potatoes, and oatmeal, sparkled with grated carrots and pinked with cheese. It's really a honey. Serve hot to 8 for breakfast, lunch, pub fare, or a light supper.

Cheshire cheese: Likely popularized in the Roman garrison of Chester when soliders of the 20th Legion stuck pieces of local cheese from the Dee valley on the points of their short swords and toasted them over open fires. It's a mellow, crumbly cheese from cow's milk, with a hint of sharpness. Even the French recognize it, calling it le Chester and versifying: Dans le Chester sec et rose,/A longues dent l'Anglaise mord. (Into the Cheshire cheese, dry and pink,/The long teeth of the English sink.)
8 cups stock (veal-based white stock is traditional, but chicken stock or vegetable stock is fine too)
2 large potatoes, peeled and diced
1 large leek, white and some green, chopped
salt and white pepper
3 carrots, peeled and grated
3/4 cup oatmeal
2 ounces Cheshire cheese (about 1 cup crumbled)
Garnish: paper-thin circles of leek

In a large saucepan, bring the stock to a boil. Scrape in the potatoes and leeks, salt and pepper to taste, then lower heat to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Scrape in the grated carrots and oatmeal, stir, then cover and simmer for 15 more minutes.

When ready to serve, stir in the cheese, cover to let melt for a few minutes, then stir and ladle into bowls. Top each bowl with a sprinkling of fresh leek circles.

ALGERIAN: Jary

Sunday, May 14, 2006

What Do I Need For Quality Home Audio?

Reconnaissance
There are a wide range of retailers as well, from mass-marketers like Circuit City, and Best Buy to “boutique” audio-only stores such as Audio Consultants in Chicago, Gramophone, in the Baltimore/Washington DC area, or the well-respected San Francisco Stereo in California. If you’re shopping one of the larger retail outlets, you can expect to find a myriad of brands at low prices, marketed by youthful sales associates who may or may not have the knowledge to help you make the best choice. Shopping at an audio-only boutique store usually means access to more brands (many you may never have heard of, and usually at higher prices), and access to more knowledgeable sales represent Your next task is to take a drive to your local audio stores and mass-merchandisers (like Best Buy, Tweeter, or Circuit City). Bring a little notebook or pad and pen with you. If your destination is a mass-merchandiser, find the home audio section of the store as soon as you get in the door. Don’t be distracted by the other offerings: avoid the computer section, pass the appliances and focus on home audio nothing else.

Take note of the brands that are offered, observing price and features. Are there any pieces available for audition there at the store? Does the store look well stocked with demonstrator models? Next, look helpless. The sales people working the floor are going to approach you and ask if they can assist you. Politely ask them to tell you about the features of the piece of equipment right in front of you. Note their reaction to your request. Do they stammer, or proceed directly into a description? Do they ask you any questions about what you want in a piece of equipment? Once they walk away, write your impressions down for later review.

If your destination is an audio-only store, treat your trip as if you are going on a first date. Take note of the surroundings. Does the store look clean, and well-maintained? Do they have a multitude of types of equipment on display? How long does it take before a sales associate asks you for help? How wide is the price range between items in each category? Once you’ve been approached by a sales rep, ask questions about the establishment, like how long have they been in business, and whether they offer service for the products they sell. Finally, ask yourself if this dealer is worthy of building a relationship with?

There are two key service features that you should expect of audio-only stores. First, audio-only boutiques will often allow you to test equipment for a limited time in your home. Think “test-drive for home audio.” This allows you to see how the item will perform in the real world and in the place where it’s going to see the majority of its duty. This customer service feature by itself should be enough to entice you to at least try a local audio-only dealer.

The second feature is that many well-established audio-only stores will deal in previously owned equipment. It’s the audio equivalent of a late model pre-owned automobile. You can get a slightly used piece of equipment that comes with a warranty and has been reconditioned to perform as new. This allows you to increase your listening pleasure and save a buck or two in the process. And many dealers will allow you to “trade up” to a new piece of equipment for a small incremental amount when you sell your equipment back to them.

As you can see, there’s a lot to think about if you’re looking to truly have great home stereo. It seems daunting at first, but after a little adjustment period, this will all feel like second nature. Take your time. Relax. Breathe. If you use these suggestions, I promise you’ll find your buying experience will be less stressful, and you will gently ease yourself into the wonderful world of home audio.

From Anthony Armstrong

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Samsung HT-P50 Home Theatre System Review

The Samsung HT-P50 Home Theatre system is proof that power and size are not mutually exclusive in Home Theatre. A feature list that takes the "kitchen-sink" approach and a set of speakers capable of producing 1000W lend to this The combination of good looks, small size, and raw power is something rarely found in many of the "home-theater-in-a-box" packages that dot the market. Due to the all-in-one nature of such packages, they tend to make sacrifices and cut corners here and there to save space, money, or compatibility.

This tends to make shopping for such systems a large task. If you are unsure as to what you are looking for, you could end up with an inexpensive system that underperforms, or an incredibly over priced system that does the same. Luckily the system we are reviewing in this article doesn't make any of the afore mentioned sacrifices, making your shopping trip quick and easy.

The Samsung HT-P50 Home Theatre System is one of Samsung's many home-theatre-in-a-box (commonly referred to as HTiB) packages. It's a higher end model in Samsung's line-up, and provides you with the very best combination of features. For starters, the receiver has a 5-disc turntable changer that plays not only DVD, CD, and VCD, but also WMA, DivX , and most other MPEG4 compression schemes. The 5.1 speakers system produces a total of 1000W of pure audio power. This will ensure some wall shaking that your neighbors will love to hate.
The retail price for Samsung HT-P50 as of writing of this article is $449. However some retailers are selling it for less than $400. For the amount of features and capability being offered, the price is reasonable for a home theatre in a box. If you are looking for a quick all-in-one package for a Recreation Room or Den, or just don't want to be bothered with the time and price involved in a full size home theatre system, then the HT-P50 could be a good package to look at. Let's take a look at that list of features.

Written by: Jason Landals

Monday, May 08, 2006

Games: Gambling: Roulette

General Information
Roulette is a game that is played by spinning a small ball around a wheel that contains either thirty-seven or thirty-eight numbered slots. When the wheel has stopped spinning, the ball will come to rest in one of these slots. The object of Roulette is to correctly predict the slot in which the ball will land. If a player predicts the correct number, they will earn a payoff on their bet. The odds of the payoff depend on how the bet was placed.




Roulette History
Several different theories propose explanations regarding the early history of Roulette. One popular assumption attributes the creation of Roulette to Blaise Pascal, a 17th century French mathematician, while other theories hold that the game was brought to Europe from China by Dominican Monks. In 1842, a modernized version of Roulette was invented by two Frenchmen, Francois and Louis Blanc, who created the single '0' game. The term 'Roulette' comes from the French word meaning 'small wheel', which quickly rose to fame in Europe and reached such heights as the building of the famous Monte Carlo resort. Upon arrival in America, the single '0' Roulette game was rejected and replaced with the '00' game, which gained immense popularity during the California Gold Rush. As a result, the different Roulette wheels are called the European (French) Wheel and the American Wheel in order to distinguish between the two. Both versions can be found in casinos today around the world.

Roulette Components
The game of Roulette consists of several distinct components: a specially designed wheel, table, ball, and chips.

The American and European (French) Wheels are two different Roulette wheel variations found in casinos today. They are built with extreme care according to exact mathematical measurements necessary to ensure the fairness of Roulette odds. The American wheel contains the 0 and 00 options in addition to 36 numbers colored both black and red. The European wheel also uses 36 numbers with the exception of the 00. The minute difference between the two wheels affects player winning odds. The croupier spins the wheel manually and waits for the ball to stop to declare the winner.

The Standard and Double-End Tables are two different Roulette playing tables used in American casinos. Standard tables place the Roulette wheel at one end, whereas Double-End tables situate the wheel in the center with two betting layouts on either side. The betting areas are designated by number sequences, colors, and rectangular spaces.

Roulette Balls range from 1/2 to 3/4 inches in diameter. They are generally made from synthetic plastic or ivory.

Roulette Chips differ in color and come in sets of 300. Each table uses 5, 6, or 7 sets of chips to provide one set for each player. The chips are unique to Roulette and can not be played at other tables in the casino.

Roulette Betting Systems
Roulette offers a variety of betting options based on number combinations and payback on wins. To place a bet, chips must first be purchased from the Croupier, which usually come in 5, 6, or 7 different color sets of 300. Betting can be divided into two general categories: Inside Bets and Outside Bets

Inside Bets deal with specific numbers and number combinations. These include Straight-Up Bets, Split Bets, Street Bets, Corner Bets, and Five Number Bets. All inside bets must meet the table minimum.

A Straight-Up Bet consists of placing chips on one of the 38 numbers on the table with a 35 to 1 payback for a winning outcome.

A Split Bet can be made by placing chips on two different adjacent numbers with a 17 to 1 payback.

Street Bets are made by placing chips on the outside edge of a chosen row of three numbers with an 11 to 1 payback.

A Corner Bet allows for chips to be placed at the intersection of four different numbers with a payback of 8 to 1.

To make a Five Number Bet, chips may only be placed at the corner intersection of zero and one, including the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, or 3 for a payback of 6 to 1.

Outside Bets are any bets that do not specifically include one of the numbers on the table. They are designated as Red or Black, Even or Odd, High or Low, Columns, and Dozens.

A Red or Black Bet means placing chips in the rectangular box specifying the color of the predicted winning number with an even payback.

Odd or Even bets consist of placing chips on the area labeled 'odd' or 'even' on the table and also provide an even payback.

A Low or High bet is the last even payback betting option, which allows the player to bet on whether or not the winning number will be between 1-18, or 19-36.

A Column Bet is made by placing chips on one of the boxes labeled '2:1' at the end of each of the three columns, which gives a 2 to 1 payback.

Dozens bets also offer a 2 to 1 payback and are made by placing chips on the specified areas which separate the 36 numbers into three groups of twelve.


Once the ball has been dropped, the Croupier will continue to take bets until signaling an end to betting both verbally and by hand signal. The Croupier proceeds to call out the winning number once the ball has come to a full stop, and places a clear plastic container over the winning number before clearing away all losing bets from the table. Winners are paid accordingly and players proceed again to place their bets.



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Thursday, May 04, 2006

ASIAN FOOD.....NO DIET DAY

On 6 May 2006 the international health community urges you to indulge.


Traditional butter chicken curry with litres of cream, Tuscan lamb stews with lashings of red wine and golden roast potatoes, deep-fried Asian prawns, homemade bread, imported cheeses, triple-layered chocolate gateaux smothered in dark chocolate ganache... mmm...

The best thing about it all is that you need some indulgence every now and again as part of a healthy lifestyle. International No Diet Day (INDD) is a backlash to the dieting obsession around the world and a reminder for you to enjoy your food experiences.

The message from the media and society in general is that fat is ugly and unhealthy. INDD wants you to realise that heeding this message can only be harmful. Especially since deadly eating disorders, unhealthy diet pills, weight loss surgeries with serious long-term implications, and many health problems due to poor nutrition are ruling this planet.

The truth is that you can also be fat and healthy or thin and unhealthy. The only things that really matter are a balanced attitude towards eating and learning to love you own body shape.

What better way to start doing just that than this yummy chocolate recipe provided by Food Fanatics.

Mini Chocolate Pots

Makes 16
400g dark choc chopped
100g butter
1 ½ cup castor sugar
8 eggs beaten
6 tablespoons flour


Melt choc over double boiler
Beat butter and sugar with electric beater until thick and creamy
Gradually add eggs until smooth
Fold through flour and melted chocolate


Spoon into cups – lightly greased
Bake for 10 min until puffed, serve immediately with cream and biscotti.

Copyright © 2002-2005 iafrica.com

Restored beaches make waves

Like a classic car being voted best in show, beaches in Monmouth County can now proudly boast that the years and expense of restoration paid off after they were named among the top six rehabbed shores in the country.

Since 2002, the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association has picked beach restoration projects it considers successful, and the 18 miles of replenished beaches between Sea Bright and the Manasquan Inlet made this year's list.

The honor most likely won't speed up federal funding to continue work there or elsewhere on the coast, but it does serve as vindication to designers and planners who were told the project would be a failure, said Anthony Ciorra, chief of the civil works branch of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency largely responsible for the replenishment projects.

"The performance speaks for itself," Ciorra said at a news conference yesterday in Long Branch announcing the designation. "The success of this project has enabled us to complete and do other projects throughout the state of New Jersey,"

This wasn't the first time a New Jersey shoreline was named to the list. Last year, beaches from Cape May Inlet to Lower Township became the first in New Jersey to earn the ASBPA designation. But the Monmouth restoration work -- encompassing 18 of 21 coastal towns in central New Jersey -- represents the largest replenishment project in the country.

When the project started in 1994, not all the oceanfront communities were sold on the idea of giving up easement rights to the state and federal governments in return for wider and higher beaches.

Deal, Loch Arbour and Allenhurst did not participate in the project. But other communities like Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright -- their beaches decimated and their towns flooded by a 1992 Nor'easter -- became the first to get sand pumped from the ocean floor.

The project created beaches where none had existed beyond sea walls that separated the homes and businesses from the ocean.

Fishermen complained that with the replenishment project, their most productive spots would become inaccessible. Surfers argued the project would create a dangerous shorebreak. Inlanders objected to having their tax dollars spent for the protection of beachfront homes built in environmentally sensitive areas. Others claimed the work was a waste of money because it required touch-ups every six years for the next 50 years.

In the past several years, these objections helped fuel a reluctance by many congressional representatives to support continued funding of beach replenishment projects. So far, President Bush has not allocated any funding in his proposed budget for fiscal year 2007, which begins Oct. 1, Ciorra said.

This year, the $3 million allocated by the federal government and another $1 million by the state for renourishment in Monmouth County will pay for only 500,000 cubic yards of sand to be pumped up on select beaches.

Spring Lake, Monmouth Beach and Manasquan are all in need of touch-ups, but the work will most likely be done in Long Branch, which hasn't had a new round of sand replenishment since 1997 or 1998, Ciorra said. That work should start in September, he said. Ciorra said another $7 million will be needed just to do the other Monmouth County towns in need.

Noreen Bodman, president of the Jersey Shore Partnership, an advocacy group for the state's coastal communities, said the money spent on replenishment has been returned to the state exponentially in tourism and taxes.

Since 1995, New Jersey has received $285.19 million in federal beach replenishment funds -- the highest amount in the country. Florida, with six beaches recognized by the ASBPA since 2002, received the second highest in federal replenishment funding, $234.72 million over the past 11 years.

Harry Simmons, president of the ASBPA, said the annual recognition is to build awareness of and appreciation for restored beaches.

"These beaches are being brought back to health in ways that reflect the unique character and ecosystem of each one, as well as the unique challenges each one faces from nature and from man," he said.

The other recognized restored beaches this year were Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland; Captiva Island in Florida; Gulf Shores/Orange Beach in Alabama; Pinellas County beaches in Florida, and Rehoboth and Dewey beaches in Delaware.

BY MARYANN SPOTO

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